Orthopedic seating wedge with ventilation channels

ABSTRACT

Appropriate material hardness prevents deformations resulting from user weight, enables it to be used on various surfaces as well as allows the wedge to have the above mentioned features while ensuring adequate sitting comfort.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention consist in an orthopedic cushion for the seat, shaped like a wedge, which allows the user to keep an appropriate posture while sitting, provides anatomic support to the spine and helps the user to model his/hers body shape.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Currently, there exist solutions in the form of orthopedic cushions which are usually made of soft polyurethane foam with a uniform structure. Such cushions may have different shapes, including wedge-alike shapes. Some cushions shapes may introduce additional profile irregularities. Such cushions are often placed in a cover (e.g. cotton or velour cover).

The purpose of orthopedic cushions, e.g. those placed on a seat, is to force the user to keep a proper (straight) posture while sitting. This is effected by the difference in height between the back of the cushion (below the spine) and the front of the cushion (below the thighs), which results in its wedge-shaped profile. Ensuring straight posture of the user may decrease sitting discomfort, e.g. relieve the user from pain that may occur in the lower end of the spine or prevent limbs from going numb. Regular use of such cushions may help users avoid spine curvature in the long term

Depending on the material used in the cushion production process and its hardness, some technical problems may occur. Such problems often consist in deformation of the cushion under user weight. As a result, its parameters may deteriorate and it may lose its effectiveness in keeping the user's proper posture while sitting. Furthermore, a uniform structure of the soft material used, especially when the cushion gets compressed under the user's weight, may cause sitting discomfort due to limited skin respiration.

SOLUTION

The invention consists in an orthopedic seating cushion, shaped like a wedge, which was made of a proper material and properly profiled.

The cushion is made of a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam of density between 40 and 50 kg/m3 (deviation tolerance +/−20%) (or other materials with similar physical properties). The material used prevents deformations while allowing the use on different surfaces irrespective of their firmness. At the same time, the material used enables additional features, such as ventilation channels, protrusions and indentation for the tailbone. In addition, the above foam is more dirt resistant, allowing the cushion to remain clean without any additional covers.

The orthopedic cushion's profile includes depression (hollow) ensuring a more stable position of the user on the cushion.

The orthopedic cushion has four rows of protrusions placed on its body, which influence blood circulation due to irregular shape of the surface. This has a positive impact on the blood supply to the skin and its overall condition.

The orthopedic cushion has vertical and horizontal ventilation channels which enable skin respiration. The vertical ventilation channels are placed between protrusions. They intersect horizontal channels at the bottom of the cushion to ensure air circulation and air access to the skin.

The cushion has indentation for the tailbone, which relieves pressure from the spine and increases sitting comfort (there is no contact point between the tailbone and the cushion).

The shape of the orthopedic cushion is presented on the drawings enclosed to this application.

PROBLEMS SOLVED

It is beneficial to manufacture the orthopedic cushion from the chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam of density between 40 and 50 kg/m3 (or material of similar physical attributes), which may be subject to only very limited deformations due to user's weight. The use of a firm material enables the cushion to have additional ventilation channels and protrusions. In addition, the firm material allows users of different weight to use the cushion on different surfaces (including also soft seats).

It is beneficial to cross link vertical and horizontal ventilation channels, which ensure air circulation and its access to the skin.

It is beneficial to apply protrusions on the body surface, which stimulate the blood circulation and influence skin condition.

It is beneficial to use a material which is resistant to dirt and enables easier cleaning of the cushion, even without any additional covers.

DRAWINGS WITH DESCRIPTIONS

The invention is illustrated on the following pictures, whereby

FIG. 1 presents the invention from above (isometric view),

FIG. 2 presents the invention from below (isometric view),

FIG. 3 presents the invention from above (straight view),

FIG. 4 presents the invention from below (straight view),

FIG. 5 presents the invention from the front,

FIG. 6 presents the invention from the side.

The default size of the invention is: 380 mm (length)×430 mm (width)×62.5 mm (height in the highest point)/10 mm (height in the lowest point). Dimension details of the invention for this size are provided below—in the case of a wedge in a different size, the dimensions should change according to the linear pattern.

The following pictures contain reference numbers which mark distinguishing features of the invention:

-   -   1. Indentation for the tailbone to prevent pressure on this part         of the spine while sitting—the distance between the apex of the         indentation and the wedge edge is 45 mm, and the apex angle is         70 degrees.     -   2. Horizontal ventilation channels which ensure inflow of air to         the vertical ventilation channels. The horizontal ventilation         channels are placed in two rows, 7 channels each, which         intersect the vertical channels (except for the two first         vertical rows in the front of the wedge). The horizontal         ventilation channels have the following dimensions: width: 10         mm, length: 182.5 mm (from the edge of the wedge) and height: 10         mm.     -   3. Depression to keep the user on the wedge. The depth of the         depression gradually drops, in line with the decreasing height         of the wedge, starting from 8mm in the back of the wedge (20 mm         from the back edge) to 1 mm in the front of the wedge (30 mm         from the front edge).     -   4. Protrusions which stimulate the blood circulation and improve         the condition and looks of the skin. The protrusions are placed         in four rows. The neighboring rows are separated from each other         by 90 mm (measured from the middle of the row). The protrusions         in a given row are separated from each other by 30 mm. The         protrusions have 12 mm width, 50 mm length and 9 mm height. The         edges of the protrusions are rounded, i.e. their height         decreases starting 12.5 mm from the middle down to the edge.     -   5. Vertical ventilation channels, which allow air inflow (from         the horizontal channels) to the user's skin. The vertical         channels have 25 mm length and 10 mm width. The vertical         channels are placed between protrusions in four rows separated         90 mm from each other (measured from the middle of the row). The         vertical channel in a given row are separated from each other by         30 mm.

The main body of the wedge has the following dimensions: length 380 (+/−3 mm)×width 430 (+/−3 mm)×height: in the highest point 62.5 (+/−2 mm) (in the back), in the lowest point 10 mm (+/−2 mm) (in the front). In the case of a wedge in a different size, the dimensions listed in points 1-5 should change according to the linear pattern.

EXAMPLE OF THE APPLICATION

The orthopedic cushion is made of a block of chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam of density at 45 kg/m3 (with allowed tolerance +/−20%). The hardness of the foam is adjusted to ensure cushion functionality, in particular to prevent deformations under the user weight and collapse of ventilation channels. On the other hand, the hardness of the form enables adequate sitting comfort (the foam should not be too firm). As a result of using the above foam, it is not necessary to use additional covers to avoid dirt (easy cleaning of the cushion surface).

The cushion can be manufactured in a CNC cutting and milling process in order to shape a block of polyethylene foam and to cut/drill vertical and horizontal ventilation channels as well as to keep the protrusions in place.

As a result of the above process, an orthopedic cushion is made. The cushion has shapes and dimensions in line with the drawings and descriptions enclosed. Key parameters of the orthopedic cushion are as follows:

-   -   the main wedge-shaped body with the following dimensions: 380         (+/−3 mm)×430 (+/−3mm)×62.5 (+/−2 mm);     -   depression in the main body to prevent slipping the wedge from         beneath the user while sitting;     -   triangular indentation for the tailbone to increase the sitting         comfort (no contact point between the tailbone and the cushion);     -   the total of 40 protrusion grouped into four rows (10         protrusions per each row);     -   vertical ventilation channels between individual protrusions         (the total of 36 ventilation channels in four rows, 9 channels         per each row) which intersect horizontal ventilation channels         (except for the first two rows in the front of the body) (the         total of 14 horizontal channels, 7 on each side of the cushion         bottom).

The above shape of the cushion results in the following:

-   -   keeping a proper posture while sitting—a triangular shape of the         cushion forces the user to keep straight while sitting;     -   skin respiration—due to vertical and horizontal ventilation         channels and appropriate firmness of the material used (no         deformation under the user's weight), it is possible to ensure         air inflow, skin respiration and better sitting comfort;     -   stimulation of blood circulation—possible due to irregular shape         of the surface, while still maintaining sitting comfort.

DRAWINGS WITH DESCRIPTIONS

The invention is illustrated on the following pictures, whereby

FIG. 1 presents the invention from above (isometric view),

FIG. 2 presents the invention from below (isometric view),

FIG. 3 presents the invention from above (straight view),

FIG. 4 presents the invention from below (straight view),

FIG. 5 presents the invention from the front,

FIG. 6 presents the invention from the side.

The default size of the invention is: 380 mm (length)×430 mm (width)×62.5 mm (height in the highest point)/10 mm (height in the lowest point). Dimension details of the invention for this size are provided below—in the case of a wedge in a different size, the dimensions should change according to the linear pattern.

The following pictures contain reference numbers which mark distinguishing features of the invention:

-   -   1. Indentation for the tailbone to prevent pressure on this part         of the spine while sitting—the distance between the apex of the         indentation and the wedge edge is 45 mm, and the apex angle is         70 degrees.     -   2. Horizontal ventilation channels which ensure inflow of air to         the vertical ventilation channels. The horizontal ventilation         channels are placed in two rows, 7 channels each, which         intersect the vertical channels (except for the two first         vertical rows in the front of the wedge). The horizontal         ventilation channels have the following dimensions: width: 10         mm, length: 182.5 mm (from the edge of the wedge) and height: 10         mm.     -   3. Depression to keep the user on the wedge. The depth of the         depression gradually drops, in line with the decreasing height         of the wedge, starting from 8 mm in the back of the wedge (20 mm         from the back edge) to 1 mm in the front of the wedge (30 mm         from the front edge).     -   4. Protrusions which stimulate the blood circulation and improve         the condition and looks of the skin. The protrusions are placed         in four rows. The neighboring rows are separated from each other         by 90 mm (measured from the middle of the row). The protrusions         in a given row are separated from each other by 30 mm. The         protrusions have 12 mm width, 50 mm length and 9 mm height. The         edges of the protrusions are rounded, i.e. their height         decreases starting 12.5 mm from the middle down to the edge.     -   5. Vertical ventilation channels, which allow air inflow (from         the horizontal channels) to the user's skin. The vertical         channels have 25 mm length and 10 mm width. The vertical         channels are placed between protrusions in four rows separated         90 mm from each other (measured from the middle of the row). The         vertical channel in a given row are separated from each other by         30 mm.     -   6. The main body of the wedge has the following dimensions:         length 380 (+/−3mm)×width 430 (+/−3 mm)×height: in the highest         point 62.5 (+/−2 mm) (in the back), in the lowest point 10 mm         (+/−2 mm) (in the front). In the case of a wedge in a different         size, the dimensions listed in points 1-5 should change         according to the linear pattern. 

1. The orthopedic seating wedge which comprises a distinct ventilation system consisting of intersecting vertical and horizontal ventilation channels that ensure appropriate skin respiration and better sitting comfort.
 2. The orthopedic seating wedge as in Point 1 which comprises protrusions that improve blood circulation in the body part in contact with the wedge, due to an irregular shape of the latter.
 3. The orthopedic seating wedge as in Point 1 with a shape that comprises an indentation for the lower part of the spine (no pressure from the wedge on the spine while sitting) and depression to help the user keep his/her position on the wedge. 